“You’re not going to tell me where we’re going?”
“Nope. But I’ve been told there’s a wide range of stuff on the menu, so you should be able to find something you’ll like.”
“How fancy is this place?” she asked, eyeing his suit.
He shrugged. “Enough. And I’m buying. I asked, and I’m buying. You got that?”
“But you paid for the coffee this morning,” she protested.
Brady slid her a mocking look. “Sugar, I can afford to buy you a three-dollar cup of coffee and still buy dinner. I told you, I asked you out on this date, and I’m paying.”
She winced inwardly at his use of the word “date” and wondered exactly what he was expecting out of the night. Leah had been taught to be tactful, though, so she assented. “All right, but I’ll make you a deal. You have to let me reciprocate sometime.”
“Deal. We’re here.” He handed a bill to the driver and helped her out of the cab.
Looking up, she saw they were standing in front of one of New York’s best steak and seafood houses. “You actually got a reservation here?”
“Yep. Apparently using your name helped. Who knew?” He threw a thousand-watt smile her way and she didn’t know whether to laugh or scream.
Instead of doing either, she tucked her hand back into his arm and tugged him forward. “I’m starving.”
“Now, you’ve gotta promise me you’re not gonna order some dinky salad and call it dinner.”
A laugh escaped Leah before she could help it. “This is a great restaurant. I promise to eat more than a salad.”
“That’s my girl.” As he said it, he covered her hand with his free one and squeezed, beaming down at her, and she felt another rush of heat course through her. At this rate she’d make Brady her dessert. After ushering her into the restaurant, he spoke to the hostess, who seated them in a cozy booth overlooking a large dining room. Brady handed her the wine list. “Pick something. You undoubtedly know more about wine than I do.”
“I really don’t know much about alcohol beyond the standard things like ordering Dom Perignon if you want champagne. I don’t drink much,” she answered, shrugging.
“Not even wine?”
“Not really.”
He tilted his head to the side. “Why not?”
“A figure skater only has a finite number of calories they can take in during the course of a day. I don’t waste them on things like alcohol. I usually drink water.”
“A finite number of calories? But you must burn off a lot of them training, don’t you?”
“Yes,” Leah acknowledged, “but I’m still careful about what I eat. If I gain weight my balance gets thrown off for my jumps and spins. It’s hard to maintain equilibrium when you’re constantly fighting with your balance.”
“Yeah, I can understand that.”
“You can?” Leah couldn’t believe he’d let it go so easily. Most guys hounded her about how one glass of wine wouldn’t kill her, how she needed to lighten up, etcetera.
“Of course I can. Balance is essential for what I do too. You get bucked off the bull in a heartbeat if you’re not balanced. Water it is.”
“You don’t have to drink water,” Leah protested. “Really. Have a glass of wine or a beer. Drink whatever you want to. It doesn’t bother me.”
“It would bother me. Let’s look at the menus.”
The waiter approached and told them about the evening’s specials. After hearing them, both immediately ordered one. They were left alone once again and Brady turned to her. “So tell me about yourself.”
“Not much to tell,” Leah replied. “I was born and raised in Stamford. My parents were already forty when I was born. I wasn’t planned. Their lives were established, and a child didn’t fit into their grand scheme. My dad worked in Manhattan as a stockbroker and my mom was one of those types who hung out at the country club and played tennis and bridge with her friends whose husbands were also in the city working during the day. I was raised by a nanny, mostly, and sent to private schools.”
She recited her life story almost as if it hadn’t happened to her. Through time she’d pushed all those feelings of hurt and rejection far down into her soul—it was the only way she could survive. “I started skating when I was six. I think my parents put me in lessons so they’d have some way to show me off, you know, the beautiful little girl in the beautiful little dress gliding around the ice. They’d let the nanny get up at five a.m. and drive me to skating practice seven days a week for months, and then when it came time for competitions all of a sudden they’d turn into doting parents, pretending to be all involved with my skating.” She knew her voice had turned bitter and frankly didn’t care. It was all true.
He slipped his hand into hers on the table and she didn’t stop him. The contact felt too good.
“As I got better, it was a way to seek my parents’ approval. So I practiced and practiced and began competing on the junior circuit when I was nine. I’d moved to the senior circuit by the time I’d turned sixteen. I filed for emancipation from my parents then. I could afford to live on my own and I was tired of being their little showpiece.” She took a deep breath and continued, staring at the table in front of her as she twisted the cloth napkin in her fingers with the hand that Brady wasn’t clutching.
“They didn’t even contest it when the attorney called. I think they were secretly relieved. The only thing they were angry about was that it embarrassed them in front of their friends and colleagues. I found an apartment and asked my nanny, who was more of a mother to me than my birth mother ever was, to move in to cook and clean and watch the place when I was away from home. When I was twenty she left to work for another family.” She knew how pathetic she sounded. Her skating career was slipping through her fingers and she had no idea what she was going to do after retirement. She didn’t have anything or anyone else.
“So do you still talk to your parents?”
“Not very often. They’re retired and travel a lot. They send a check at Christmas. I don’t bother sending anything back. There’s nothing they need or want.” She sighed and withdrew her hand, looking up at Brady. “Don’t get me wrong. I don’t hate them. It’s not worth the energy to hate them.”
“That’s kinda sad.”
“Why?”
“Because I think you should let yourself feel things. I’ve seen flashes of emotions in you, but then you just shut down.”
“It’s easier that way.”
“I’m sure it is. I just don’t think it’s healthy.” When Leah began to object, he grabbed her hand again and pulled it to his lips. “Shhh. I’m not trying to make you angry. I just think you should let people in every once in a while.”
He began to kiss her fingers and she stared at his mouth. How could such a simple touch undo her? If only he knew how far inside she was letting him, against her better judgment. There were people who she’d known for years who didn’t have this much insight into her. A tear formed in the corner of her eye and she hastily swept it away before Brady noticed and felt even sorrier for her. She didn’t want his pity.
Their meals arrived and conversation turned to more mundane topics. When they finished, Brady suggested a walk, and since she wasn’t wearing heels, she agreed, figuring it would do her ankle good to get some exercise. They went to Fifth Avenue and strolled along with the tourists, checking out the window displays of the various department stores.
“I bet you shop in these stores, huh?” he teased her.
“Some of them,” she admitted. As they continued to walk their arms bumped occasionally, sending pulses of heat through Leah. This man was too potent for her state of mind. After they’d strolled for a while she glanced at her watch and then said, “I should be getting back. We have another long day tomorrow.”
“Sure,” Brady answered. He hailed a cab and helped her into it. At the hotel, he took her room key. But before he opened her door, he gently turned her to face him, her back to the door. “Thank y
ou for coming out with me. I had a great time.”
“Thank you for inviting me.” She smiled up at him and then watched as his eyes blazed. Holy cow, she could drown in those eyes.
Before she could even think to pull away, he leaned one forearm on the door by her head and wrapped his other arm around her waist, capturing her lips with his own. Without thought, she melted into him, her hands coming up to tangle in his lapels. The kiss started out sweet, just a gentle brush of his mouth on hers. Despite that, a heavy tide of ecstasy swept over her, drawing her closer to him and flooding her sex with moisture.
He groaned and ran the tip of his tongue over the seam of her mouth, seeking entrance. She opened to him as the last of her resistance drained away, leaving only a staggering need to get closer, to be engulfed completely by him. His tongue made a thorough, intimate search of her mouth and her heart fluttered. He pushed the hard planes of his body against her, shifting to cup her bottom in his hands. His insistent hardness pressed into her belly and a surge of agonized need roared through her. She’d never felt anything like this.
He lifted his head, breathing hard. “Let’s go in your room. We shouldn’t do this here.”
Finally realizing where they were and what they were doing, she pushed him away. Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she choked out, “We shouldn’t be doing this at all.” Leah couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze.
“I thought you wanted me to kiss you. You’ve been giving me signals all night,” Brady told her, frustration evident in his voice.
Leah winced. She hadn’t discouraged his attentions, but now that she could see where this was leading she needed to stop it before things got out of control. “Look—”
“I apologize. I didn’t realize my advance wasn’t welcome.” He let out a loud breath. “I’ll see ya in the morning.”
Before she could say another word he’d turned and let himself into his room. Slumping back against the door, she touched her fingers to her lips, swollen from his kisses.
* * * * *
For the entire next day while they did more interviews, Brady avoided speaking with Leah unless he had to. Their easy camaraderie of the day before was gone, replaced by cool professionalism on her part and silence on his. He knew he wasn’t handling the situation maturely, but dammit, the woman had him tied in knots and he didn’t like it one bit. He’d never met someone who ran so hot and cold. One minute she was melting in his arms and the next she was pushing him away as if he were a leper. He had plenty of fish in his sea—he didn’t need to deal with one who’d freeze his balls off.
When they were done for the day they went to the front desk of the hotel to pick up the package with their tickets to Pueblo. Brady was chagrined to find David had booked them in adjoining seats. Great. Just what he needed—to be stuck on a plane with Leah for hours, so close he could hardly not touch her. Smelling her subtle, spicy scent as it wafted through the air around them. He feared he was destined for an extended hard-on with no chance of relief. No matter how cool she behaved toward him, he still wanted her with a desperation that disgusted him.
This time, he let her handle her own baggage. In silence, they went through security and made their way to the gate. Sitting down to wait, he watched out of the corner of his eye as Leah checked messages on her phone. He’d seen her do that a couple of times, and there were never any messages as far as he could tell. He wasn’t sure what to make of that, or of the sigh she heaved as she closed the phone and shoved it back in her purse. From their conversation last night it was obvious she wasn’t close to her folks, but she must have friends, right?
Their flight boarded and he settled into his aisle seat. As they took off he wished he had something to do. He wasn’t much of a reader, preferring to watch movies when he had free time. He closed his eyes and willed his body to sleep, but all he could do was replay that kiss over and over in his head. How she’d tasted, like spring rain and a hint of the coffee she’d had after dinner. What she’d felt like, with her soft skin and sinewy, athletic body. And how she’d moaned, as if she’d taken a bite of the most mouth-watering dessert on earth. Shifting in his seat, he attempted to subtly adjust his cock in his jeans. At this rate he was going to be insane by the time they got to Pueblo. Time to enact a plan.
Turning, he addressed her. “Look, we need to talk.”
She looked up, her eyes betraying no emotion. “So talk.”
“We can’t go on like this. We’ve gotta work together and if it’s like this we’re both gonna lose our minds.”
Leah sighed and Brady smiled to himself. Already he knew that meant she was going to give in. “You’re right.” She leveled a hard gaze at him. “But we can’t have a repeat of last night. We need to remain purely professional.”
He nodded, schooling his features into a somber expression. He had no intention of staying professional with Leah, but didn’t want to spook her. “If that’s what you want.”
“It would never work between us,” she insisted. “We come from two different worlds. Plus, in a few weeks I’m going back to Connecticut to start training for my season and your tour is continuing. Besides, I need to concentrate on skating and trying to salvage what’s left of my career.”
“Of course.”
“I’m glad you agree,” she said, though she looked suspicious of his quick assent.
“So we’ll be friendly. That’s okay. But I have to warn you. There are these women on tour.” Her eyebrow rose. “They’re called ‘buckle bunnies’. Basically, they wanna sleep with a bull rider and they don’t care where, when or how it happens. They can get pretty aggressive sometimes.” He gave what he hoped looked like a casual shrug. “I just didn’t want you to be caught off guard if you see them hitting on me. The successful guys get approached more because we make the most money. Sometimes they come right out and say some pretty raunchy stuff, trying to get our attention, or they’ll drape themselves all over us.”
Leah’s eyes widened and he had to bite back a smile. “You mean like groupies?”
“Yeah, I guess you could call them that.”
“We have groupies too, but they’re not usually sexually aggressive. Skating is a much more civilized atmosphere, I guess.” She winced. It was getting harder and harder to keep a straight face. “Not that your tour isn’t civilized—”
He broke then, smiling. “That’s okay, darlin’. We’ve been called a lotta things in our time, but civilized isn’t one of them.” He had her on the ropes now, he just needed to land the knock-out punch. “So anyway, I wanted you to be prepared for that.” He waited a beat and then said, “You still up for going shopping tomorrow? The event doesn’t start ’til Saturday, so we’ve got all day tomorrow to get you all gussied up for your appearances.”
“I guess so.” She wrinkled her nose and he took that opportunity to finally, finally touch her again.
“Hey,” he said, grabbing her hand and running the pad of his thumb along the smooth skin. “Dressing comfortably for once won’t kill you. And I promise I won’t make you get anything you think is butt ugly. Deal?”
She stared down at their joined hands for a moment and then at him. “Deal.”
“Good.” He half-turned toward the front of the plane then, reluctantly letting go of her hand. He closed his eyes again, feigning sleep. She had no idea what she was getting herself into. With the subtle seduction he was about to unleash, she didn’t stand a chance of remaining aloof. After spending as long as he could stand pretending to sleep, he gave up and instead shifted in his seat just a bit more so he could watch her without detection as she stared out the window at nothing. As they began their descent into Pueblo, she jumped when he remarked, “Not long now.”
“No, not long now,” she whispered, still turned toward the window. She refused to meet his gaze, even when she had to feel his eyes on her. Her breathing had accelerated and he saw through her reflection in the window that a fine sheen of sweat had appeared on her forehead.
&n
bsp; He grinned. He’d wondered if he was the only one being affected by their closeness. Despite her attempts to convince him otherwise, she wasn’t unaffected. Far from it. Now all he had to do was break through the walls she was throwing up and he’d have her, and having her would be one of the sweetest things he’d ever experience. He was sure of it.
When they reached their hotel and got to their rooms, Leah put the keycard into the lock and spoke to Brady without looking at him. “I’ll call you tomorrow morning when I’m ready to leave. I have a few phone calls to make first.” He crowded his body behind hers and fingered a trailing lock of her hair, tucking it behind her ear.
Leaning in to fan his breath over her neck, he said, “Looking forward to it, darlin’. I can’t wait to get you outta these clothes.” With a low sound of amusement, he moved on to his own door.
Chapter Four
The next day, she put off calling Brady as long as she could, but it was already ten thirty and she knew if she didn’t call him soon he was going to bust down the door. Sighing, she dialed his room. He picked up on the first ring and she couldn’t help but smile. “Hey, it’s Leah. I’m ready whenever you are.”
“Be right over.” He hung up the phone and Leah chuckled, setting hers down in the cradle before going into the bathroom to make a final check of her appearance. Not thirty seconds later a knock sounded. She opened the door to reveal Brady clad in a deliciously tight pair of jeans, a button-down shirt that stretched over his chest and biceps like a lover might after really good sex, and a devilish smile. “Ready?”
“In a sec.” She grabbed her room key and purse and they headed out. Leah was surprised when Brady simply turned her to the left out of the hotel.
“The store is within walking distance,” he explained.
Leah eyed her shoes and then him. “For you or for me?”
Laughing, he answered, “If your ankle starts to hurt I’ll carry you. How’s that for a deal?”
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